As the 2013 football season begins in the SEC, the players
drawing headlines are much the same as the end of 2012.

Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel is being investigated by
the NCAA amid allegations that he accepted payment for signing autographs. South
Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is in Jay Z's contacts and Michigan
running back Vincent Smith's nightmares. Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron has
two national championship rings and still has fewer Twitter followers than his
girlfriend.

It's a good bet that we'll still be talking about Manziel,
Clowney and McCarron again at the end of a 2013 season in which all three could be Heisman Trophy candidates. But here are 10 other players who aren't
getting as much ink now that should be making headlines by December:

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

Last April, another Texas A&M offensive lineman was the
big name from the SEC, as Luke Joeckel went No. 2 overall in the 2013 NFL
draft. Matthews, who will slide over from right tackle to Joeckel's old spot on
the left side this year, could be an even better prospect. "He and Clowney are
the best two prospects in the conference," Senior Bowl executive director and
former NFL general manager Phil Savage said of Matthews, the son of former NFL
great Bruce Matthews. "He's a legitimate left tackle. He's going to be a
top-five pick easy next year."

Louchiez Purifoy, CB, Florida

South Carolina fans already know about Purifoy's play-making
ability all too well, as his strip of Connor Shaw on the first play of the game
last year set up an early touchdown en route to a 44-11 Florida rout that cost
the Gamecocks a berth in the SEC championship game. This year, he'll take on an
expanded role, as the Gators plan to use him at receiver as well, and he's a
projected first-round pick in next year's NFL draft should he decide to
declare.

Henry Josey, RB, Missouri

Josey didn't play at all last season after suffering what the
Tigers' team physician called "a one-in-a-million type of injury" during a game
against Texas in 2011. Josey, who tore the patellar tendon and anterior
cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee, had been putting
together a special season before the injury, rushing for 1,186 yards and
averaging 8 yards per carry. Now he's back and after a promising spring - and a
disappointing season by Mizzou QB James Franklin last year - he could be the
focal point of the Tigers' offense.

Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU

He's only started three games in two years, but Johnson was
chosen to The Sporting News' preseason All-America team. Why? Because the man
nicknamed "The Freak" has uncommon agility for a 295-pound tackle (he runs a
4.7 40) and, in an LSU defense that values experience and often forces younger
players to wait their turn, it's his turn to shine.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama

His five interceptions, including one in the BCS national
championship game win over Notre Dame, led the Crimson Tide during his first
year as a starter in 2012. Now a junior and a preseason Sporting News
All-American, Clinton-Dix will be the leader of a revamped Alabama secondary
and could be the best college safety in the nation.

Dee Ford, DE, Auburn

Auburn's defense was a train wreck last season, but Ford was
one of the few glimmers of hope, leading the team with six sacks. Now a senior,
Ford has changed his number from 95 to 30 and says he's "10 times better" as a
pass rusher than he was last season. He's expected to miss the season opener with a knee issue, but he could be one of the better
defensive ends in the conference not named Clowney by the time December rolls
around.

Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss

Vanderbilt's Jordan Matthews caught more passes and Alabama's
Amari Cooper made more highlight reels, but Moncrief (66 catches, 979 yards, 10
TDs) had as much of an impact on his team's success as any receiver in the
conference. Now entering a second season with quarterback Bo Wallace, look for
his numbers to continue to rise.

Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State

He was second on the team and seventh in the conference in
tackles last season (102). With Cam Lawrence now gone, the sophomore is a
6-foot-5, 235-pound load in the middle who will be counted upon to anchor the
front seven while the Bulldogs rebuild their secondary.

Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia

Georgia lost seven starters off its defense and none were
more productive or more disruptive than Jarvis Jones, who led the SEC in sacks
(14.5) and tackles for loss (24.5). Jenkins, whose five sacks were second on
the team as a freshman, should be the next great pass rusher on a Todd Grantham
defense that has produced not only Jones but also Justin Houston of the Kansas
City Chiefs.

Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas

New Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema favors a ground-based
attack and Williams, a 6-foot, 222-pound sophomore from Allen, Texas, should be
the beneficiary of the scheme change. With Dennis Johnson and Knile Davis both
graduated, Williams should be the focus of the Hogs' offense after what was
reportedly a breakout spring.